French River Rapids, field sketch by Paul Kane, 1845.
By Andrew Watson and Jim Clifford
You really can’t go camping in Ontario without encountering the past. Especially not in a provincial park. Certainly not along the French River. The past is everywhere, around every bend in the river, next to every campsite, layered across every scenic landscape. Moreover, it is a really interesting history for two environmental historians. We’ve read and written about the problems with the concept of ‘wilderness‘, as human history influences even the most remote landscapes. The scenery of the Lower French River brings these theories to life, as it was clearly created by both natural forces and past human activities. Glaciers and thousands of years erosion shaped the beautifully worn rocks, while loggers left us with forests with few trees more than a hundred years old.
Located roughly 300 kilometers north of Toronto, connecting Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, the French River was designated Canada’s first Heritage River in 1986, three years before it also became a provincial park. The Canadian Heritage Rivers System, which includes 37 rivers in every province and territory except Quebec, was established in order “to conserve rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them.” After a week camping and canoeing here, it’s easy to understand why the French became the country’s first Heritage River. Continue reading →
